Bag-turning machine.



'P. J. GAGNON, JR.

BAG TURNING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1915. 4

Patented Feb. 8,1916'.

1,171,034- SHEETS H VViInesses. y i

j. Maiw/L. Peer Gagnon dr..

bym SMX/kim@ THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH C0.. WASHINGTDN. DA c.

P. J. GAGN'ON, Je. BAG TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1915.

1,171,034. Peeented Feb. 8,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I

I Fg.

Q. M Pefel Gagnon Jr.,

byfwwew THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c

P. J. GAGNON, JR. BAG TURNING MACHINE. APPLICAIloN FILED rialza. 1915,

Patented' Penas, 1916. 3 SHEETs-SHEET a lInventor. Peer d. Gagnon Jr.,

VVnesses.

THE CoLuMmA PLANOGRAPII C0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.y

PETER J'. GAGNON, JR., OF SOUTH LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO RALPH A. WILSON, 0F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

BAG-TUnNING-MACHINE. l

Patented Feb. 8,1916.

Application led February 23, 19:15.l Serial No. 9,772.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. Gaeison, J r.,

a citizen of the United States of America residing at South Lowell, Middlesex county,

tate of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Bag-Turning Machines; of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. v Y

This invention relates to improvements in bag' turning machines and the principal objects thereof are to provide a machine which may be adjusted foi-bags of different sizes and lengths which will completely turn the bags inside out, leaving` no unturned corners, also comprising means which will strip the bags from the turning membersand deliver the same upon a suitable table, which preferably is rotatably mounted to receive the bags alternately end for end, and-is provided with suitable means to permit. it to descend as the pile of bags thereon increases'.

Many kinds of bags such as cotton bags for sugar and salt, burlap bagsfor cement, grain, etc., are made from fiat woven fabric folded and stitched along the sides and bottom to form the bag, the bag then being turned inside out so that the seamed edges will lie within the bag and .thus be` protected, and its exterior present a smooth surface. l

I am aware that heretofore bag turning machines have been constructed, but so far' as I am aware none has been devised which is adapted to turn bags of different sizes; which will smooth out the side seams throughout the Vlength of the bags; and completely turn their corners; or which will release the bags successively in such a ,manner that they will be stacked to forma neat and substantially levelpile.'

One of the principal features of this invention consistsin the employment ofparallel reciprocating bag engaging rods rounded at their ends, or preferably provided with enlarged spherical ends,'adapted to press against the inturned edgesof the v bag, atV

least one of whichis usually a seam, and

thereby smooth out theseam throughoutthe l length of the bag.

the parallelreciprocating bag turning members so that they will operate equally well ing means for `adjusting the extent o-f their reciprocating movement in order vthat they may operate properly upon bags of different depths. Y

Another feature of the invention consists in the employment of a stripping mechanism whichl will unfailingly grip and support the end of the bag as the reciprocating members are withdrawnfand which may be actuated to release the bag' at the instant the turning members leave the mouth of the` bag,so thatv the bag will drop horizontally upon a receiving table or upon the uppermost bag upon said table.

Another feature ofthe invention lies in the provision of means whereby the bags may be `deposited on the pile successively end for end thereby maintaining the pile level notwithstanding the i differences in thickness of the edges and ends of the bag resulting from the inturned seams.

Another feature of thisinvention resides in providing a yieldable means for supporting the table which will permit the table automatically.' to descendas the weight of the pile of bags thereon increases. v

Another object of the invention is toprovide a clutch mechanism which will permit ated by the operator to throw the bag turnon bags of different sizes, and also in provid- L ing mechanism rinto operation quickly as the upturned vbag is presented'by him to the turning devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Ymachine which may be y'made principally from ordinary' commercial `materials such as rods, shafts, pipes, etc., with minimum expense butV which vwhen assembled will afford a very rigid construction. Other objects andffeatures of the invention will more fullyappear from the fol'- f lowing description Vand the accompanying drawing which discloses a preferred enibodimentof my invention and .will be more fully pointed vout in the annexed'claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vside'eleioo i "ration showing"`more or less diagrammatically theassembled construction of a bag turning machine embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an end View ofthe machineobserved from the plane indicated by lines" 2 2 Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view ,of .the machine, the central portion being broken `away to permit the actuating mechanism and stripping mechanism to be illustrated in a single figure, Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation of the bag stripper, F ig. 5 is a yside elevation of the same, and Fig. 6 is tallic shafts or pipes of usual oonni'ercfial' construction and which may be securedtherein by snitable set screws'. these shafts o, 7, S, constitute which support the shelf 1 and are seatedl at' their' bases in suitable sockets in cylindrical bosses 9, 10, 11" projecting upwardly from an integral baseplate 12 which inayV be bolted tothe floor.

The bag engaging and turning members preferably consist of a plurality, usually two, parallel cylindrical' rodsl or plunger's 13, 14 having rounded bag engaging ends, which desirably may be inA the"` form of balls screwed upon' their ends.'A The pinnigers 13; 14 are slidably inounted'inbeainings 15, 16 in stands 17, 18 adjustably mounted in a groove or way 19 in th'eupp'er side of: the beam or shelf 1; rhe stand's'17 18y are provided with lateral extensions' 20 having slots 21 through which bolts 22 seated in suitable bosses in the she'lil 1 may entend, the stands being secured' at any desired di'si tance apart, tor correspond tothe width' of the bags being turned, by tighteningY the nuts 23 or" said bolts. A .Y

inasmuch as the bag turning' rodsV 13, 14' are necessarily of considerable length the bearings 15, 16y are provided withy tubular extensions 24 of suflicient lengthv to' give them proper support. These extensions' are desirably provided with raW-hidebusliings at'their ends, and the bearings 15, 16' are provided with bronze bushings in order to reduce friction to a minimum, for it is obvious that a lubricant may not be usedupon the' plungers without danger ofI soiling the ags.

TheV bag turning plungers are actuated through a rod 25 forming a cross-head and having couplings 26 which may be adjustably secured to the plungers 13,14- by set screws 27. The cross head 25 desirably is provided intermediate the couplings 26 with similar couplings having transverse aper* tures adapted to inclose and slide uponp'arallel supporting guide rods or tubes 28, 29, which are supported at one end upon a bracket 30 carried by the shelf 1 and at the opposite' end upon a bracket 31 carried by a vertical post 32. The post 32, like the legs 6, 7 and 3, may be of metal shai'ting or piping secured at its lower end within a cylindrical boss 33 extending upwardly from a base 34 bolted or screwed to the floor.

The ACross-head 25, with the attached plungers 13, 14 desir-ably is reciprocated by a lever35 having a slot 36 through which the cylindrical rod 25 forming the cross head passesythe lever being pivetally mounted: upn av suitablepintle' orV stud 37 carried2 by a bracket 38: fiXedly secured to the'door;

Any`v suitableineans be provided for oscillatingl the lever A convenient means, which is'illust'rat'ed herein, comprises a wheel 0"1"` disk'E 40 having a vstud 41 near itsperiphery Connected by a siiit'able' pitman 42 with a stud upon the median portion o'f the' lever 355 The disk' 40; is secured to a' shaft 48 ivliibhi is j'ouraled in suitable bearings 44; 45 in brackets 46, 47'r having groeven basesadaptedvv to iitL and be se# cu're'd to the' pests 7, 8 by caps 48 partially embracing saidfpsts andy clamped thereupon and te the brackets by suitable bolts 49.

I-nirder to provide' for' the quiekv starting of the niaohine the shaftl 43 desirably is driven; through a' frioti'on clutch;A which, as illustratedl herein, etimpiises a fastv pulley 50 keyed upon" the shaft 43 and having a slightly conical' face 51 and ebperating, suitably driven, lo'ose' pulley 52 rotatably mounted" upon the' shaft 43' and' hafing a peripheral flange 53' adapted tov1 engage the conicalf'ace 51 of thepulley 50i The pulley 52 is'slidably mountedupon the shait 43' and is moved intoI and out ot engagement with' the fast pulley by any usual'shift'ing means: As'illustrated herein it comprises a bell crank lever 54 pivoted at' its elbow upn a' stud carried by a 'E i bracket 56 boltede tothe basek plate' 12, the Vertical; arm of the lever being forked and securedl by pins 57 toa suitable box 58 rotatably mounted' in a groove 59 inthe hub of the pulley 52. The end ol the other arm 54 of the bell' crank' lever restsv upon the arm 60 of' a rock shaft 61 which is journaled in suitable bearings 62, 63 carried by the posts 6 and 7 and' which is provided with an actuating arm 65;

The upper end of the armv 65 desirably may be j rovided with a handle butv preferably is piv-otally attached toa hookV shaped arm dwhichy rests in' a suitable guide 67 carried by the postv Gandy extends forwardly of the'machine al suiiicient distance so that its curved end may be pressedr by the leg of the operator. For as will hereinafter more fully appear the hands of the operator are usually engagedv in manipulating the bags so that it is inconvenient if not impossible for him to use them to control the starting mechanism.

It will be obvious from the foregoing disclosure that when the operator presses the Y hooked arm 66 the loose driving pulley 52 In the operation of the machine the bags are rst placed upon the table 68X with the sewed ends of the bags toward the frame or shelf 1. The operator grasps the mouth of the uppermost bag and reverses or folds back the edge thereof over his thumbs in such a manner as to thrust the reversed portion over the balls of the plungers 13,14. He then presses the starting. lever, maintaining his hold upon the mouth of the bag. The plungers advance along the interior of the edges of the bag smoothing the seanivor seams as-they advance until they reach the bottom of the bag, finally forcing the cor.- ners into completely turned position. The operator then releases the bag which Y is thereupon automatically removed from the plungers by suitable stripping mechanism.

The preferred Vform of stripping mech-` anism disclosed herein comprises a' pair ofV relatively movable clamping members adapted positively to engage the bottom portion of the turned bag and retain it in horizontal position in the plane of reciprocation of the plungers 13, 14 until they *emerge from the mouth ofthe bag,`mech anism being provided to release the clamping members at the instant the ends of the plungers pass from the mouth of the bag so that it will drop horizontally luponY a suitable supporting table or upon the uppermost bag thereon. This requires a clamping mechanism which will positively grip the bag without slipping during the stripping operation, but which may beinstantly and completely released from the bag atthe end of that operation. In the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein the stripping mechanism comprises a pair of sharp prongs adapted to be thrust vertically into the bag adjacent to its corners and a coperating pivotally mounted member adapted to be positioned horizontally beneath the bag as the prongs penetrate it, and to a return vertical position simultaneouslv with the Vwithdrawal of the prongs. The mechanism which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 consists of a pair of horizontal diverging arms 7 0--7 1 bent at their outer ends to vertical position and tapered and pointed to form prongs 72. The arms 7 0-71 are bent upwardly at their inner ends and secured to a sliding plate 74 by a suitable clamping plate 75 which is bolted to the slide 74. VThe slide74 is mounted ina way in a stand 76,

which is supported upon the upper end of a preferably cylindrical post 77 secured at the ottoni to a base plate 78 screwed to the floor. The lower part of the standV 76 is provided with lateral extensions 7 9 which are vertically apertured to receive the ends of brackets 8O which are adjustably secured therein by suitable set screws 81. The lower end of the brackets 80 are bent forwardly -beyond the plane of the sliding plate 74 and the ends of the same are connected by a cross bolt 82 adapted to serve as a pivotv for the lower or coperating clamping-member of the bag stripping mechanism. rlhis coperating bag stripping member, which is adapted to engage the under side of the bag, preferably comprises a pair ofl diver-ging arms 83-84 arranged in lparallelism with the arms 71-7 2 of the bag engaging prongs. These arms are preferably made from a single rod which is bent into U-shape, and the end portions bent in opposite directions to form the divergent arms, the in-` termediate portion 85 which is U-shaped in form being bent aroundthe rod 82 so that the diverging arms 83-84 are pivotally mounted thereon. The U-shaped portion 85 desirably is curved downwardly as shown.` in Fig. 5 and is engaged by the lower end of the slide 74.

`inasmuch as the lower end of the slide 74 is a short distance vbeyond the rod -82 upon which the arms 83 and V 84 are pivoted the descent of the slide 74 upon the curved U- shaped portion 85 will rock the rods 83-84 about thepivot l82 vand raise them into en-.

removedv from the U-shaped portion 85 of the pivotal supporting member so that the arms 83-84 will drop Vsimultaneously with the upwardmovement of theprongs 7 2 7 2 and will permit the bagV to drop horizontally upon-the table or pile in the manner aforesaid, v,

. In order to properly release the bag when the ends of the plungers emerge from the.

mouth thereof as thecross-head is reciprocated it is necessary that the movement of ther slide 7 4 be cordinated with the4 movement of the cross-head which actuates the A f bag turning plungers'. This is accomplished *in the presentoase by means of a rock shaft 86 journaled at its outer end in a bracket 87 extending laterally from the stand 76, said rock shaft having an arm 88 attached by a chain or other suitable connection 89 t'o a ringr 90 upon the sliding plate 74', the rock shaft S6 being actuated by the cross head 25 near the forward and rearward ends of its stroke in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

AIt is desirable that the plate 74' with its attached prongs may be easily removed from the stand 7 6 to sharpen the prongs, I have therefore attached the plate 7d to the stand 7G by slot and bolt connections, preferably comprising two vslots 91-92 in the sliding plate which receive suitable bolts 93 extending upwardly from the stand 7 G, said bolts being provided with flattened thumb nuts 9d which when arranged longitudinally of the sliding plate will pass through the slots but when arranged'transversely thereof will slidingly retain the plate in place in theways upon tie stand. y

The rock shaft 86 issupported at its inner end upon a bracket 95 extending from vertical post 97, which preferably is in the form of shaft 97 secured at its` lower end in the boss Lit in the bed plate 1, the end of the bracket 95 being preferably so positioned that the rock shaft 86 lies parallel to the axial plane of the machine. The actuating arm 9S of the rock shaft 86 is connected by a vertical link 99 with the arm 100 of a bell crank lever which is pivoted at its elbow upon a stud-101 carried by a bracket 102 supported by the post 97. (See Figs. 2 and The end portion 103 of the bell crank lever 100 is reduced and may preferably be cylindrical in form to engage a slot at the lower end of the rod 99. The end portion 103 desirably-is bifurcated at its end and an anti-friction roller 104C journaled therein and adapted to bear upon the side of a leaf spring 105 bent into sinuous form at its upper end to provide hollows 10G and 107 adapted to receive the roller 104 and thereb v hold the arm 100 of the bell crank lever in depressed or in elevated postion in accordance with the movement of the cross head. The leaf spring 105 is suitably secured at its lower end by screws 108 passing through said spring` 105 into the shelf 1 and a suitable boss or bracket 109 extending downwardly therefrom. The other arm 110 of the bell crank lever is provided with a stud 111 by which it is pivotally connected to the end of' a rod 112, which is located above and extends parallel to the guide rods *E 28 and 29 which support the cross head 25,

the other end of the rod 112 being slidably mounted in a suitable journal in the bracket 31 which is supported by the post 82, which also supports the outer ends of the rods 28 l and 29. A. helical cushioning spring 113 is nit/"nosa desirably secured to the end of the rod 112 in any suitable manner, for example, the end of the rod may be slotted to receive thc final coil of the spring and a clamping nut screwed thereover.

In order to coordinate the movements of the stripping' mechanism with the movement of the cross-head and to provide suitable means whereby such coordination may be retained notwithstanding the difference in length of stroke for bags of different size, the rod 112 is provided near its ends with attached adjustable depending arms or brackets 114;'*115 suitably i bent at their lower ends to lie in the path of the crosshead 25. lThese arms may be bifurcated at their upper ends andthe bifurcation cylindrically bored to receive `the rod 112 and may be clamped thereto by suitable screws 116 connecting the extended ends of said bifurcations.

1n the operation of the machine the brackets 114; and 115 are placedY in such a manner that the cross-head 25 will engage them to reciprocate the rod 112 just as it reaches the extremity of its movement in either direction. When the cross-head moves forward therefore, and the bag turning members 13e-111 almost reach the bottom of the bag the cross-head 25 engages the arm 1111 moving the rod 112 forward, rocking the arm 100 of said bell crank lever downward, depressing the link 99 and through it the arm 98 of the rock shaft 86. The other arm 88 of the rock shaft, which is connected to the slide 74, is simultaneously depressed, permitting the slide 74 to descend so that the prongs 72 will penetrate the bag. As the slide 72 descends it also contacts with the curved U-shaped extension 85 of the bag supporting arms 83, 84 and raises them into Contact with the bottom of the bag so that the bag is securely clamped by the time the ends ofthe plungers 13 and 14k reach the bottom corners of the bag. rlhe cross-head then moves in the opposite direction withdrawing the plungers 13 and 111 from the bag. As the ends of said pl'ungers closely approach the mouth of the bag the crosshead engages the bracket 115, drawing the rod 112 in the opposite direction, raising the arm 100 of the bell crank lever and with it the link 99 and arms 98 and 88 of the rock shaft, and through the chain 89 raising the slide 74, thus withdrawing the prongs 72 from the bag. As the slide moves upwardly it releases its engagement with the curved U-shaped portion of the supporting arms 853-84 so that the bag is permitted to drop horizontally.

lt will be observed that by reason of the depressions 106 and 107 in the leaf spring 105 the arm 100 of the bell'crank lever will be locked either in its depressed or in its eleof the lever 112 so that the bag clamping mechanism is operated only at the ends of .ceive the bags as they are dropped by the strippingmechanism, if however the bags are piled one upon another with their seamed bottoms superposed the pile will become considerablyV thicker upon the seamed sides than upon the unseamed sides. I have therefore devised a table having means for intermittently rotating the same so that the successive bags will be depositedin reverse order, thus maintaining the-pile level as it increases in height. I have also provided means for supporting the table which receives the bags thus discharged so that the surface of the table will be automatically lowered as the bags are piled upon it, and thedistance between the uppermost bag and the stripping mechanism maintained substantially the same at all times, thereby providing for the more even piling Vof the bags. This is accomplished in the preferred form of the invention illustrated herein by providing a rotatable table so connected with the driving mechanism of the bag turningmachine as to be rotated one half a revolution every time a bag is stripped. |Ihis table is supported by means of compressed air at such predetermined pressure that the additional weight placed upon the table as the successive bags are piled thereon will cause the table to descend in proportion to the building of the pile, hand operated means being provided to release the pressure if the weight Vof the bags on the table does not cause the table to rbe depressed suiiciently. This mechanism as illustrated herein comprises atable 120 supported upon a central standard 121 ywhich extends into a compressed air cylinder 122 and has a piston head upon the lower end tightly fitting said cylinder. The cylinder 122 may beconveniently supported by a depending guide or bushing 123 from a base plate 124 secured to the floor. Compressed air may beintroduced into the cylinder 122 through a pipe 125 leading from a'suitable compressor-126, a` cock 127V'being placed at any convenient ooint in the pipe 126 and adapted to establ a hsh connectlon between the compressor and thecylinder, to shut off said connection, ory

to release the pressure in the cylinder as may be desired by the operator.

The table desirably is rotatedthrough a worm gear 128 having an attached key 129 slidably mounted in a groove in the standard 121 of the table, said gear being retained in place by an L-shaped bracket 130 secured to the base plate 124: and having a bifurcated end extending above the gear and partly embracing the standard 121. The worm gear 128 desirably is rotated through a worm 131 journaled in suitable bearings 132 and 133 Vheretofore described.

and connected by a universal joint 13d with a shaft 135 journaled at its opposite end in a bracket 136 secured 'to the vertical leg 7 of the'frame. 'Ihe shaft 135 is driven through a beveled gear 137 which meshes with a cornplementary beveled gear 138, which may conveniently be secured to or forma part of the disk 40 which actuates the lever 35 to reciprocate the cross head 25. In order that the table may be used without rotation I have provided a clutch 139 slidably keyed upon the shaft 135 and having a serrated face adapted to engage complementary serrations upon the hub of the gear 137 which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 135.

It will be obvious Vthat by providing the proper ratio of gearing the table 120 may be caused to move through one half a revolution upon each reciprocation ofthe bag .turning plungers so that alternate `bags may be deposited end forl end upon the table, and that Yby suitably regulating the degree of pressure of the air in the compressed air pipe the table will be caused to descend in proportion to the weight of the bags placed thereupon, maintaining the top of the pile of bags at substantially a constant level as IThe complete operation of the machine may be brieiiy described as follows: The bags to be turned are first placed upon the table 68X with the bottoms lof the bags adjacent to the supporting frame and shelf V1, the plungersy being withdrawn so that their ends are slightly closer tothe shelf 1' than the mouths of the bags, the operator thereupon grasps the vmouth of the uppermost bag with both hands, and turning the margin thereof over his thumbs, places the reversed mouth of the Ibag over the ends of the plungers 13, 1/1. He then presses the hooked arm 66 to start the movement ofthe plungers, maintaining his hold upon the top of the bag while the plungers advancing turn the outside of the bag inwardly. When the Vplungers have reached substantially the ei;- `tent of their movement and are about to turn the corners of the bottom of theV bag the -cross-head engages the depending bracket v turning arms thereupon commence movement lin the opposite direction, the bag being vheld firmly by the stripping mechanism. 'As the plungers are about to emerge 4from'the mouth of the bag the cross head 25 engages the bracket 115,` slidingV the barV 112 in such' a manner that it raises the arm 100 of the bell crank lever, and the link 99, thus raising the arm 88 of the rock shaft 86 and with it the slide so that the prongs are withdrawn from the bag andthe supporting armsy per-E mitted to drop just at the instant the plungers emerge from the mouth of the bag, thus permitting the bag to drop horizontally upon the table 1:20. Another bag is then presented by the operator to the plunger-s 13-14 and the operation repeated. In the meantime the table is rotated, through the gears 137, 138, the flexible shaft 135 and Worm gears 131 and 12S, one half a revolution so that the next succeeding bag falls upon .the table With its mouth superposed upon the bottom of the preceding bag. As the bags accumulate upon the table they cause the depression of the table in proportion to the height of the pile so that the top of the pile is maintained at substantially the same level. lf the Weight of the bags is insuiiicient to depress the table in the manner aforesaid the operator may turn the cock 127 and release the compressed air sufliciently to permit the table to descend to the proper level. 1f, on the other hand, the table descends too rapidly under the Weight of the bags a sufiicientamount of compressed air may be admitted into the cylinder to raise the table to the desired level.

lt is to be understood that the particular embodimentV of my invention disclosed herein is illustrative merely, and that the several novel principles and features thereof may be embodied in different forms of mechanisms Within the lmeaning and scope of the following claims.

This machine is not only adapted to turn bags in the manner aforesaid but may also be utilized to form double bags, that is to say, bags of double thickness. This may be accomplished by turning the first bag upon the plungers by hand While they remain stationary and thereafter by turning the second bag over the first With the plungers in motion as above described. This may also be accomplished by maintaining the stripping mechanism active yduring the first of the two operations aforesaid.

Having thus described my invention what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. A bag turning machine comprising a plurality of bag turning members, means to reciprocate the same to cause them to engage, enter and While advancing reverse a positioned bag, means for gripping and holding the bottom end of the turned bag during the Withdrawal of the bag turning members and means to release the bag gripping means from engagement With the bag When the bag turning members leave the mouth of the bag thereby to drop the bag horizontally.

2. A bag turning machine comprising a plurality of bag turning members, means to reciprocate the same to cause them to engage, enter and reverse a positioned bag, gripping means comprising members adapted to penetrate the bag and cooperating supporting members adapted to hold the bag in horizontal position during the Withdrawal of the bag turning members and means simultaneously to release the bag gripping means from the bag When the bag turning members leave the mouth of the bag. I

3. A bag turning machine comprising a plurality of bag turning n embers, means to reciprocate the same to cause them to engage, .enter and reverse -a positioned bag, stripping means comprising a slide having a pair of pronged arms adapted to penetrate vthe bag and cooperating supporting menibers and means for simultaneously actuating said slide and said supporting members to grasp and hold the bag during the Withdrawal of the bag turning means, and means for separating the prongs and supporting members as the bag turning members emerge from the mouth of the bag, whereby the bag may be dropped horizontally.

ll. A bag turning machine comprising a plurality of ybag turning members, a cross head connected to said members, means to reciprocate said cross head to cause said vmembers to engage, enter and reverse a positioned bag, stripping means adapted to engage the bag when fully turned and to holdl the bag during the Withdrawal of the bag turning means and means actuated by said cross head adapted to release the stripping means as the bag turning members leave the mouth' of the bag.

5. A bag turning machine comprising a plurality of bag turning members, a cross head connected to said members, means to reciprocate said cross head to cause said bag turning members to engage, enter and reif'erse a positioned bag, stripping means comprising a pair of separable members adapted .to engage the bag when fully turned, means for actuating said members including a rock ,shaft connected to one of said members, a

bell crank having one arm connected to said rock shaft, a sliding rod connected to the other -arm of said bell crank and means cai'- ried by said sliding rod adapted to be engaged by said cross head as the same approaches the end of its movement in each direction, whereby said stripping 'means will be actuated to engage the bag at the conclusion of the turning movement of said members and will be actuated to release the bag when the turning members leave the mouth thereof.

6. A b ag turning machine comprising a plurality of bag turning members, a cross head connected to said members, means to reciprocate said cross yhead to cause said bag Y. turning members to engage, enter and reverse a positioned bag, stripping means comprising a pair of separable members adapted to engage the bag when fully turned, means for actuating said members including a rock Vshaft connected to one of saidl members, a

bell crank having one arm connected to said rock shaft, a sliding rod adjustably connected to the other arm of said bell crank and means carried by said sliding rod adapted to be engaged by said cross head as the same approaches the end of its movement in each direction, whereby said stripping means will be actuated to engage the bag at the conclusion of the turning movement of said members and will be actuated to release the bag when the turning members leave the mouth thereof.

7. Stripping mechanism for bag turning machines comprising a stand, a sliding member mounted thereon having vertically de-` pending sharp prongs, a supporting member pivotally mounted upon said stand and having an offset portion adapted to be engaged by said sliding memberto rotate said sup-.

porting member upon its pivot to cause the same to engage the under surface of the bag and means for actuating said sliding member.

8. Stripping mechanism for bag turning machines comprising a stand and sliding member mount-ed thereon having laterally Vextending arms provided with downwardly extended sharp prongs, a supporting member pivotally mounted upon said stand and having a curved extension positioned in the path of said sliding member and adapted to be engaged thereby upon the descent of said sliding member to cause the supporting `member to rotate into engagement with the under face of the bag and means for actuating said sliding member.

9. Stripping mechanism for bag turning machines comprising a stand and sliding member mounted thereon having laterally extending arms provided with downwardly extended sharp prongs, a supporting member pivotally mounted upon said stand and having curved extension positioned in the path of said sliding member and adapted to be engaged thereby upon the descent of said sliding member to cause the supporting memberv to rotate into engagement with the under face of the bag, means for actuatingl said sliding member, and means for detachably securing said sliding member to saidk stand whereby the same may be readily removed to permit the sharpening of the rongs. 1

10. Stripping mechanism for bag turning machines comprising a stand, a sliding member mounted thereon having laterally eX- tending arms provided with downwardly eX- tended sharp prongs, a supporting member pivotally mounted upon said stand and having a curved extension positioned in the path of said sliding member and adapted to be engaged thereby upon the descent of said sliding member to cause the supporting member to rotate into engagement with the comprising a plurality of bolts rigidly secured in said stand and extending through 'slots in said sliding member, and having flattened members which when turned transversely of said slots will secure vsaid member slidingly upon said stand and when turned longitudinally of said slots will permit'tli'e removal of said member. s c

11. In a bag turning machine the combination of reciprocating bag turning members, stripping members, and a receiving n table and means lfor positioning said table to receive successive bagsV in reversed positio-n.

12. In a bag turning machine the combination kof reciprocating bag turning members, stripping members, a table to receive the turned bags and means fo-r rotating the table one half revolution upon each reciprocation of the bag vturning members whereby successive bags will be piled upon said table in reverse order and a level pile of bags thereby maintained.

13. In a bag .turning machine the combination of reciprocating bagturning members, stripping members, a table to receive the turned bags and means for rotating the table one half revolution upon each reciprocation of the bag turning members comprising a gear. connected tothe standard of'said tablea a worm cooperating with said gear, a shaft 'having a universal joint connecting the same with said worm, and means for actuating said shaft from the bagV turning mechanism whereby said table will be rotated in synchronism with the reciprocation of said bag turning members.

14. ln a bag turning machine the combination of reciprocating-bag turning mem. bers, stripping members, a table to receive the turned bags and means for rotating the table one half revolution upon each reciprocation of the bag turning members comprising a gear connected to the standard of said table, a worm coperating with said gear, a shaft having a universal joint connecting the same with'said worm, a clutch on said shaft and drivingl mechanism adapted to be engaged by said clutch whereby said table may be rotated in synchronism with the reciprocation of said turningmechanism or may be released therefrom to permit the table to remain stationary. l

15. A lbag turning machine comprising parallel bag turning members, means to reciprocate thesame to'engage, enter, and reverse a positioned bag, stripping mechanism, a receiving table for the stripped bags, having a central standard terminating at its lower end in a piston, a cylinder for said piston, means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder and means for intermittently rotating Said table one half revolution in timed relation with each bag ,turning reoiprooation of the bag turning members.

1G. A bag turning machine comprising parallel bag' turning vmembers, means ,to re,- oiprocate the same te engage, enteiymanl reverse a positioned bag, stripping meohaniem, a receiving table for the Stripped bags, having a central standard terminating Iat its lower end in a piston, a cylinder vfor said piston, means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder, means for manually oontrolling the compressed air supplied thereto whereby the Supporting means may Ybe adapted to receive bags of cliferent weight and means for intermittently rotating said table one-half revolution in timed relation With each bag turning reciprocation of the bag turning members.

`17. 'In a bag turning machine the combifor actuating the @eine Comprising a dri iingshaft dllying Apulley rotatably 1110111112- zmembers, .and stripper and lmeans 09erable gby'the leg of Ithe operator to cause the Y@Iigagelte@nt pi' ySaid Vfriction Idil-tch- 112 tetimely Whereff hay@ Signed my name toy this specification, in the presence oit .two sebribng Witnesses- PETER J. GAGNON, JR.

Emi/Ann IVF. SLATTER-Y, Jr.`

Copies of this patent `may be vvalb/tained :for five cents each, by`adgrrefshi,ng the "Commissioner of Patents'. 

